RCIA Session 19: Divine Revelation, Part II: Sacred Scripture
(May 27, 2008: St. Augustine of Canterbury)
Opening Song:
Scripture:
“O Word of God Incarnate” (St. Michael Hymnal, #469)
Acts 8:26-39
Summary: “In keeping with the Lord’s command, the Gospel was handed on in two ways: orally […], and
in writing ‘by those apostles and other men associated with the apostles who, under the inspiration of the
same Holy Spirit, committed the message of salvation to writing’.” (cf. CCC 76). Sacred Tradition and
Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. […] The Church
has always venerated the Scriptures as She venerates the Lord’s Body. (CCC 80,103; see CCC 74-141)
1. The “Deposit of Faith” is, to put it mildly, an enormous “deposit” of ______________________—
____________ God, given ______ God, and given freely to ______.
There are at least three key reasons why Christ’s Church does not—and cannot ever—rely on the Bible alone
for its work of salvation (cf. CCC 82):
1. The Bible is only part of what God gave to us (cf. John 21:25, etc.).
2. The “Bible alone” idea is self-contradictory—since it’s nowhere to be found in the Bible!
3. The Bible is designed by God to be interpreted by the teaching authority of the Church; it is not
designed to interpret itself.
“The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form
of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone.” (CCC 85)
2. […] out of Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium [teaching authority] of the Church—
none of them can stand if even one of the others is ________________ (cf. CCC 95); this is why the Church
of Christ is a “Church of the __________”, and not simply a “Church of the __________”.
Old Testament “categories”: (The order in your bible might be slightly different; see table of contents.)
(*) = parts of these books are also classified as “apocalyptic” literature
Torah/Pentateuch
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Historical
Books
Joshua
2 Chronicles
Judges
Ezra
Ruth
Nehemiah
1 Samuel
Tobit
2 Samuel
Judith
1 Kings
Esther
2 Kings
1 Maccabees
1 Chronicles
2 Maccabees
Wisdom
Books
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Wisdom
Sirach
You can find commentary from the Church Fathers at http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php
Prophetic Books
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Baruch
Ezekiel (*)
Daniel (*)
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Important note: if you’re just starting to read the Old Testament, use your Bible timeline chart to guide you to the books (or
parts of books) which actually tell the story, so that you don’t get lost (and frustrated)!
Key “story of salvation” books of the Old Testament:
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Genesis: early history, first 3 old covenants (Adam & Eve, Noah & family, Abraham & clan)
Exodus: deliverance from slavery in Egypt, 4 th old covenant (with Nation of Israel, at Passover & Sinai)
Joshua: occupation of the land promised to Abraham’s descendants, let by Joshua
Judges: describes Israel’s repeated cycles of “prosperity, idolatry, oppression, repentance, deliverance”
Ruth: tells of the faithfulness of a foreign woman who became the great-grandmother of King David
Samuel: the rise of the first monarchy of Israel, and the 5 th old covenant (with David & the unified kingdom)
Kings: the corruption and fall of the kingdom of Israel; conquest of Israel and Judah by Assyria and Babylon
Maccabees: revolution by faithful Jews against their new pagan king, restoration of true worship to Israel
New Testament “categories”: (deal explicitly with Jesus and His Church)
Gospels/Historical
Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Mark
Gospel of Luke
Gospel of John
Acts of the Apostles
Epistles (letters)
of St. Paul
Romans
Colossians
1 Corinthians 1 Thessalonians
2 Corinthians 2 Thessalonians
Galatians
1 Timothy
Ephesians
2 Timothy
Philippians
Titus
Philemon
Other Epistles
Hebrews (**)
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
(**) = author unknown
Apocalyptic
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
You can find commentary from the Church Fathers at
http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php
Key “story of salvation” books of the New Testament:
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the four Gospels: descriptions of the life, teachings, passion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Acts of the Apostles: “scrapbook” of the early life of the Catholic Church
3. St. Jerome once wrote, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of ______________.” This means two
things: that all believers are obligated to become (and stay) __________________ with the Sacred
Scriptures, and that the purpose of the Scriptures is to point to and reveal ______________—the Source of
our ____________________.
5 “rules” for profitable reading of the Sacred Scriptures:
1) Pray—before, during, and after you read!
2) Start “light”. Some Biblical books are like technical manuals, needing specialized training to understand.
3) Learn the Church’s teachings about the Bible, and stick close to them!
4) Learn the context of the Scriptures: as part of the whole Deposit of Faith, interpreted by the Magisterium.
5) Be mindful of the four senses of Scripture: the literal sense (what the author actually wrote and meant),
and the three spiritual senses: allegorical (how it points to Christ), moral (how we’re supposed to live),
and anagogical (what role is played in God’s eternal plan).
Song: “Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi” (by Nick Alexander); Parody of "Jenny (867-5309)"
I've read the Gospels, now where should I turn to
Tried some dozen books before Matthew
I didn't have much time but I found out that I was in luck
I found that I could read the entirety of Habbakuk
Jonah's just got four chapters
Amos goes up to nine
I'm gonna read the others
Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi (Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi)
Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi (Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi)
Micah Five prophesies of Bethlehem
And Joel Two has the Pentecost mayhem...
And there's so much I had learned from Hosea
and his wife Gomer
If I had the _One Year Bible_ I'd hafta wait 'til December
They're prophets, prophets
They got a message from our Lord
They're prophets, prophets
From the Good Book, with the Great Reward
Jonah's just got four chapters
Amos goes up to nine
Would you believe there's others?
Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah (Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah)
Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah (Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah)
Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi (Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi)
Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah (Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah)
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is ignorance of the Scriptures ignorance of Christ?
2. Pick your favorite Bible passage, and give one example of one of its senses (literal, allegorical, etc.).
3. How were the contents of Scripture decided, when, and by Whom?
4. Have you ever encountered different versions of the Bible? If so, what differences did you notice?
Closing Prayer: (one version of a “prayer before reading the Sacred Scriptures”)
O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit
to have a right judgment in all things and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Take-Home Activity: Read any of the first three Gospels (in one sitting, or in parts) in the next month.